> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.lightpost.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.lightpost.app/add-on-features/financial-management.md).

# Financial Management

### What is Financial Management?

Financial Management in Lightpost is built to track all forms of contributions/income (checks, cash, etc). This works in conjunction with the [Online Giving](/add-on-features/online-giving.md) feature, if that is enabled.

Financial Management **is not** an effort to replace Quickbooks or similar applications. If you need to track payroll and other things, those tools that have decades of experience being built, are the right tool for the job.

Financial Manage consist of three primary features:

### Income Tracking

Lightpost enables you to add records of all income, and to record these against income buckets that you can create yourself. Examples of "income buckets" are:

* "General Contribution"
* "Special Contribution"
* "Missions Support"
* "Building Fund"

<figure><img src="/files/cr6vOqbG7IdHviBArzIQ" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Lightpost offers an intuitive and efficient interface for entering this data, including compatibility with certain check readers that use *keyboard emulation,* for quick data entry. It can be as fast as: scan the check, enter the amount, press "Enter", and you're ready for the next entry.

### Expense Tracking & Budgets

You can also record expenses across custom **budgets** that you create and set yearly limits for. The goal here is to provide access to elders and deacons to see their budget standing near real-time.

In addition to individual data entry, a mass import option will soon be available.

<figure><img src="/files/UcpksEZ7So8pEdDxNdg3" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Both income and expenses are organized into **Finance Categories**, which is also where you set the yearly budgets that drive these reports.

{% content-ref url="/pages/emDPJ8ikc5xbqzFwDEvv" %}
[Finance Categories](/add-on-features/financial-management/finance-categories.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

### Reimbursement Requests (Coming Soon)

A quick, easy option coming to the mobile app will be the ability for church members to take a photo of expenses incurred by them on behalf of the church, and submit a form to request reimbursement for the expense.

Many congregations do this with a paper-based method request method that can be time consuming and slow.

This feature is expected to be available end of summer 2024.